Airplane



May 30, 1944." J. WILTON 2,350,140

- AIRPLANE V r Filed April 28, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor May 30, 1944. J. WILTON 2,350,140

AIRPLANE Fi1ed.April 28, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n ventar Q y M In ,,I, WWW g y May 30, 1944. J. WILTON 2,350,140

' AIRPLANE Filed April 28, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor y 30, 4- J. WILTON 2,350,140

AIRPLANE Filed April 28, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .t 3 Inventor G (ma WW9} M31 6 J. WILTON May 30, 1944.

AIRPLANE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 28, 1943 1w IE Patented May 30, 1944 l UNITE-D STATES "TENT OFFICE The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in military airplanes, particularly bombers, and has for its primary object to provide a craft ofwthis type comprising novel bomb projecting means whereby the target may be accurately bombed while the plane is a considerable distance therefrom, thus permitting the mission to be successfully performed with comparative safety.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an airplane of the aforementioned character which embodies unique means for loading the bomb projector.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bombing plane which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, light in weight and which may be produced at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an airplane equipped with a bomb projecting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the swinging catapult in projected position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view with the catapult in retracted or inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical section through the bomb receptacle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a multi-engined airplane which is designated generally by reference numeral I. The airplane I includes a fuselage 2 having formed longitudinally in its top an elongated opening 3, said opening including an enlarged rear end portion 4.

In the embodiment shown, a substantially U- shaped base 5 is secured in the lower portion of the fuselage 2 beneath the forward portion of the opening 3. Journaled transversely in the base 5 is a shaft 6. A catapult 1 is fixed on the shaft 6 for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said catapult being operable in the opening 3'. The catapult I includes an arm 3 through oneend portion of which the shaft 6 passes. On the other crime end of the arm 8 is a substantially conical receptacle 9 for the reception of a bomb. The enlarged, circular end portion 4 of the opening 3 accommodates the receptacle 9. Powerful coil springs H] are connected to the pivoted end portion of the arm 8 for swinging the catapult I upwardly and forwardly to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. A cushion II is provided on the fuselage 2 at the forward end of the opening 3 for arresting the arm 8.

An electric motor I2 is operatively connected by a train of gears l3 to the shaft 6 for retracting the catapult 1 against the tension of the springs 10. A rest I4 is provided in the fuselage 2 for supporting the free end of the catapult I in its retracted or inoperative position. Pivotally mounted on the rest I4 is a spring actuated latch i5 which is engageable with a lug or the like IS on the catapult I for releasably securing said catapult in retracted position. A cable or the like I! is connected to the latch l5 for releasing the catapult 1.

Mounted transversely in the upper portion of the fuselage 2 is a pair of rails I 8. Shiftably mounted on the rails I8 is a longitudinal track l9. The shiftable track I9 is provided with supporting wheels or rollers 29 which travel on the rails Hi.

When in operative position over the catapult 1, the track I9 is longitudinally aligned with a stationary track section 2|. A carriage 22 is operable on the tracks l9 and 2|. Suspended from the carriage 22 is a suitable grapple 23 for conveying the bombs to the catapult 1.

Cables 24 are connected to the carriage 22 for moving said carriage back and forth in the fuselage 2, said cables being trained around suitably arranged pulleys, as at 25. Cables 25 are trained around pulleys 21 in the fuselage 2 and connected to the track [9 for shifting said track laterally on the rails I 8. Of course, the cables 24 and 26 are operable from the front portion of the fuselage.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the catapult T in retracted position, as seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, a bomb is engaged in the grapple 23 and the carriage 22 is pulled rearwardly on the track I9 until the bomb is positioned above I the receptacle 9, The bomb is then deposited in any suitable manner in the receptacle 9. The

carria e 22 is then returned to its position in The cable I! i then catapult I to retracted position where it is'again 1 secured by the latch IS. The track I9 is then shifted back to its position over the catapult- 1 and the apparatus is ready for the next opera tion.

It is believed that the many advantages of a bombing plane constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood,

and although a preferred embodiment is as illustrated and described, itis to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scopeof the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An airplane comprising, in combination, a fuselage having a longitudinally elongated opening in its top, a bomb catapult including an arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement j in a vertical plane in the fuselage and operable in the opening, means for actuating the catapult, a laterally shiftablev track .mounted longitudie nally in the upper portion of the fuselage, means operable on the track for conveying a bomb to the catapult, and means for shifting-said track laterally in the fuselage.

"2. An airplane comprising, in combination, a fuselage having alongltudinally elongatedopening in its top, a bomb catapult including an arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane in the fuselage and operable in the opening, means for actuating the catapult, rails mounted transversely in the upper portion of the fuselage, a longitudinal track in the fuselage shiftable laterally on said rails, a carriage operableton rthe trackflfor conveying bombs to the'catapult, means for actuating the carriage, and-means for shifting the track on therails.

JOHN WILTON. 

